​The Community Farmers Market Will Not Host an Outdoor Market in 2017.

It's with a heavy heart that I announce that we will not be hosting a Downtown Community Farmers market in 2017. The market outdoor market, previously held in downtown Carbondale on Wednesdays from 3-6 p.m., received generous community support from important stakeholders - adjacent businesses, WDBX radio, local musicians, SIH, Jackson County Health Department, and community gardeners during the past two years. Despite generous support from community groups, customer traffic never reached a robust level to support a sustainable level of vendors.

2016 was a particularly challenging season. The market faced forecasts of rain 23 out of 26 markets and two markets where storms rocked tents while waters filled the street. Throughout the season, shopper traffic trickled, and before the season’s end vendors left.

Farmers markets require a delicate balance of customers and vendors to be successful. Not enough vendors, and the customers can’t find what they’re looking for and stop frequenting the market. Too few customers, and the vendors don’t make enough in sales to warrant coming to market. The Community Farmers Market has struggled with this balance over the past several seasons.

It has been a difficult decision to cancel the outdoor market season for the Community Farmers Market. We have loved sharing in good food and community with all of our loyal customers over the past few seasons, but have found that Carbondale is too small of a town to support two weekly markets. We plan to continue the Winter Farmers Market starting the first Saturday in December. Additionally, we at Food Works are working with regional farmers markets to develop SNAP programs and to expand the Double Value Coupon efforts that we pioneered at the Community Farmers Market.